India - State’s largest wind farm to begin operation from 2009

Wind energy major, Suzlon group, will begin generating power from Rs 500-crore project in West Bengal — the largest wind farm in the eastern region —from 2009.

The 50-MW wind farm, located about 160 km from Kolkata at Dadanpatra near the sea resort of Digha, will require about 700 acres of land. The project will be financed through and debts and internal accruals.

“Land has been identified and it is in the process of transfer. The major challenge is to bring large wind farm equipment to the site from our production base in south India,” said PM Rao, General Manager (marketing) of Suzlon Infrastructure Services Ltd (SISL) and also project in-charge.

The power generated from the farm will be purchased by the West Bengal government at Rs 4 per unit. Rao said that the West Bengal government should make the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 10 years instead of the current five years agreement.

“Breakeven for a wind power project is seven years and with a five year PPA it is difficult to make the project bankable,” he said.